Shift membrane burner fuel cell combination

Abstract

Method and device for converting CO on one side of a membrane with the addition of water to give CO2 and H2O. During this reaction H2 passes through the membrane. On the other side of the membrane H2 is combined with oxygen and burned. This oxygen can be supplied in the form of air and can originate from a fuel cell or fed thereto. CO and H2 originate from a fuel cell.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . Method for converting CO on one side of a membrane in the presence of water to CO 2  and H 2 O on said one side of said membrane, H 2  passing through said membrane to the other side of said membrane and said hydrogen being combusted on said other side with oxygen fed to said other side, wherein the feed to the one side of the membrane comprises anode off-gas from a fuel cell.  
   
   
       21 . Method according to  claim 20 , wherein said oxygen comprises cathode off-gas from a fuel cell.  
   
   
       22 . Method according to  claim 20 , wherein said oxygen is fed to the cathode of a fuel cell.  
   
   
       23 . Method according to  claim 20 , wherein said oxygen comprises air.  
   
   
       24 . Method according to  claim 20 , wherein water is separated off from the off-gas originating from said one side of said membrane.  
   
   
       25 . Method according to  claim 20 , wherein the heat from the off-gas from at least one of the sides of said membrane is recovered.  
   
   
       26 . Method according to  claim 20 , wherein the oxygen-containing gas is introduced on said other side of the membrane under elevated pressure.  
   
   
       27 . Method according to  claim 20 , wherein gas containing water originating from the other side of said membrane is fed to a further step for converting CO on one side of a further membrane in the presence of water to give CO 2  and H 2 O on the one side of said further membrane, H 2  passing through said further membrane to the other side of said further membrane.  
   
   
       28 . Method according to  claim 27 , wherein a separate oxygen-containing stream is fed to the inlet of said one side of said further membrane.  
   
   
       29 . System comprising an SOFC fuel cell and a device for reacting CO and H 2 , comprising a hydrogen-permeable membrane ( 8 ) bounded on either side by, respectively, a first and a second chamber, wherein said first chamber is provided with feed means for CO and H 2  and with discharge means for CO 2  and H 2 O and said second chamber is constructed as a combustion chamber and is provided with oxygen feed means and water discharge means, wherein the anode outlet of said SOFC is connected to said first chamber.  
   
   
       30 . System according to  claim 29 , wherein the cathode outlet of said SOFC is connected to said second chamber.  
   
   
       31 . System according to  claim 29 , wherein the cathode inlet is connected to said second chamber.  
   
   
       32 . System according to  claim 29 , wherein the outlet of said first chamber is provided with water removal means.  
   
   
       33 . System according to  claim 29 , wherein the outlet of said second chamber is connected to the expander of a gas turbine.  
   
   
       34 . System according to  claim 33 , wherein the gas fed to the second chamber of said membrane is fed through a compressor of said turbine.  
   
   
       35 . System according to  claim 29 , wherein the outlet of said turbine is connected to the cathode inlet of a further SOFC.  
   
   
       36 . System according to  claim 35 , wherein said further SOFC is connected to a system comprising an SOFC fuel cell and a device for reacting CO and H 2 , comprising a hydrogen-permeable membrane ( 8 ) bounded on either side by, respectively, a first and a second chamber, wherein said first chamber is provided with feed means for CO and H 2  and with discharge means for CO 2  and H 2 O and said second chamber is constructed as a combustion chamber and is provided with oxygen feed means and water discharge means, wherein the anode outlet of said SOFC is connected to said first chamber.  
   
   
       37 . System according to  claim 29 , comprising a further device for reacting CO and H 2 , comprising a hydrogen-permeable membrane delimited on either side by, respectively, a first and second chamber, wherein said first chamber is provided with feed means for CO and H 2  and is provided with discharge means for CO 2  and H 2 O and said second chamber is constructed as a combustion chamber and provided with a feed connected to the discharge from the second chamber of said device for reacting CO and H 2 .  
   
   
       38 . System according to  claim 37 , wherein said second chamber is provided with separate oxygen feed means.